HOBOKEN -- The Hoboken Board of Education has appointed Dr. Richard J. Brockel to serve as interim superintendent until a permanent replacement is found. Brockel will serve on a contract basis until Aug. 11, when outgoing superintendent Mark Toback officially leaves to take over as head of the Wayne public school district.

Brockel has extensive experience in school administration in New Jersey. He has previously served as a superintendent in Ridgefield, Greenwood Lake, Park Ridge, and Wood-Ridge. He has also served as assistant superintendent in Greenwood Lake and Fort Lee, principal in Springfield and assistant principal in Ridgefield. Brockel’s doctoral research was honored by American Association of School Administrators in 1991.

Board chair Leon Gold said he was very excited about the selection of Brockel. Gold said the board considered around 20 candidates and had three days of interviews. He added that the search for a permanent superintendent is already underway.

This story will be updated as more information about the decision becomes available.